York University's law school takes its name from Osgoode Hall, the downtown Toronto building where it began, though classes now run in the Ignat Kaneff Building on York's Keele campus in the north of the city. The three-year JD includes a required experiential learning component. Lawyers trained abroad mostly come for the LLM, including a stream in Canadian common law. Osgoode also runs one of the larger research graduate programmes in law in Canada.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Official website: osgoode.yorku.ca
York University
Ignat Kaneff Building, Keele campus
JD, LLM and PhD in law
Parkdale Community Legal Services
CA$35,000 – CA$50,000
International students, JD and LLM programmes
CA$20,000 – CA$26,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on osgoode.yorku.ca before you apply.
Juris Doctor (JD)
Professional DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
LSAT required
LLM in Canadian Common Law
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
LLM (Research)
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
PhD in Law
DoctorateDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
A JD with a required hands-on learning component.
An LLM in Canadian common law for lawyers trained abroad.
Clinical work at Parkdale Community Legal Services.
JD graduates article with Bay Street firms, government legal departments and public-interest clinics.
Foreign-trained lawyers often pair the LLM with National Committee on Accreditation exams.
Eligible graduates can apply for a post-graduation work permit.
Undergrad
JD via OLSAS
Postgrad
Winter, varies by stream
The Keele campus is in north-west Toronto, and Line 1 of the subway runs to York University station. Some students live in residences nearby; others commute from the city centre.
Toronto is the centre of legal Canada, with most large firms on Bay Street, a few blocks from the Court of Appeal at Osgoode Hall itself. Rent is the highest in Ontario.
Letter of acceptance from York University
Ontario provincial attestation letter
Proof of funds for tuition and living
Online IRCC study permit application
Medical exam, if requested
Valid passport and biometrics
JD applications go through OLSAS, with a deadline in early November for the following September, and you need an LSAT score. Graduate law programmes usually close in the winter; check each LLM stream, since professional programmes can have later dates.
The JD and the research programmes start in September. Some professional LLM streams have other start dates.
A Canadian study permit. Start with the letter of acceptance from York University and, where required, the provincial attestation letter, then apply to IRCC online. Allow a few months, as processing times vary by country.
The JD is the main degree and needs undergraduate study plus the LSAT. The research LLM and the LLM in Canadian common law need a first law degree. If English isn't your first language, expect IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 100.
Osgoode has entrance awards and bursaries, many of them need-based. Research LLM and PhD students can be considered for York graduate funding. Professional LLM students usually pay their own way.
